Forever Manchester is a charity that raises money to fund and support community activity across Greater Manchester

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Cut Out Shapes

Two by Two is a partnership of Sale-based graphic artists and full-time mothers, Anna Chopping and Zoe Taylor, who create inclusive community art events that promote and inspire talent within the local arts scene.

By organising a number of community art projects and events, they hope to generate a sense of pride about what has been, and can be, achieved and created in Sale.

Two by Two’s ‘Penguin Parade’ was a free drop-in creative workshop as part of Sale Arts Trail in 2015, where members of the local community (young and old) were invited to go along to Sale Library, ‘pick up a penguin’ and have fun personalising their ‘penguin suits’.

There was a range of mixed media materials on offer for people to decorate and design their own flat-pack penguin. Once happy with their penguin’s new attire, everyone was invited to add their penguin to the parade installation that was exhibited for the duration of the Sale Arts Trail.

As well as engaging the community, Two By Two is also passionate about helping local people with voluntary opportunities. One such volunteer is Emma, who, as a full-time mum to two young children, was keen to get involved as she strongly believes in making Sale a more vibrant and exciting place to live with children.

“It’s refreshing to be involved in a group that is about making exciting events happen right here in Sale,” explains Emma. “My 5-year-old really enjoys getting involved in craft activities and he really enjoyed making something for the Penguin Parade. I personally love penguins, and it was great to see a whole parade of them lined up through the streets.”

Two by Two also kicked off the Christmas festive season with a Lantern Parade, starting with glitter-fuelled workshops at Coppice and Sale libraries where they helped 270 children transform their lanterns. Lots of glue and glitter was involved and the children (and grown-ups!) had a brilliant time.

The lanterns were taken to the Sale Town Christmas Extravaganza at The Square Shopping Centre where the town centre lights were switched on. The lanterns were lit and lots of families joined together to parade through town over to Sale Waterside to wait for Santa to arrive on his sleigh boat.